Farmers market staple Carter’s Table is trading in its weekly taco stand for a permanent location in the heart of downtown State College on Saturday, January 21.

Located at 407 E. Beaver Ave., Carter’s Table will offer its signature tacos as well as specials every Tuesday through Saturday.

Shawn Carter, Penn State alum and owner of Carter’s Table, gained a large following in his debut season at the State College farmers market. With lines spanning down Locust Lane for his signature tacos, Carter figured it was time for bigger and better things.

“After that [Onward State] interview, I don’t know if it was that interview or a combination of things, but it blew up,” Carter said. “I went from prepping 30 pounds of meat to 120 pounds of meat. I would just be sitting there amazed…in awe.”

When asked about his future plans back in September, Carter wasn’t really sure. However, the community’s love for the Carter’s Table “was a proof of concept” and made the idea of a restaurant anything but inconceivable.

“When you see people forming a line before you open, I mean, that’s crazy,” Carter said.

Since the moment Carter began cooking in his Beaver Hill apartment, running his own restaurant became a dream. So when the real estate company, Holland Holding Group, approached him with a permanent location downtown, the answer was obvious.

“I truly believe that this is God’s plan. It has always been my dream to have a restaurant,“ Carter said. “I have to go through with it.”

Carter has loved watching his business grow over the past year and hopes his downtown taco shop becomes a place of community.

“Food brings people together. It doesn’t matter who you are. Tacos is one thing that everyone likes,” Carter said.

Another positive aspect that Carter is looking forward to is the open concept of the location, where he can still engage with customers while cooking his beloved tacos.

“It is a perfect spot. It’s like it was made for this concept,” Carter said.

To make the spot even more engaging, Carter worked with Penn State alum and artist Joe Beam to capture the downtown experience through murals within the restaurant.

Carter is excited for what the next few months will bring, beside the obvious good food.